By David Wiwchar

Locals to receive priority placement

BC Housing defends project

Jan 15, 2026 | 10:31 AM

BC Housing officials say the recently approved supportive housing project on 2nd Avenue will help lessen the homeless crisis in Port Alberni.

Executive Director Heidi Hartman dismissed concerns about increased criminal behaviour around the project, saying housing improves the lives of people, which then extends to how those people interact within the community.

“Supportive Housing has so many positive impacts in the community,” she said. “People who have homes have less ER visits or interactions with the justice system. I like to highlight the really positive outcomes to bringing people inside and putting a roof over their head.”

Hartman says fears of attracting people from elsewhere for homeless services here is not fact based and they will prioritize local people, and not cause a feared influx of people from elsewhere.

“We definitely prioritize the local people and we can transition them from those temporary sites into the permanent housing that will be built on 2nd Avenue, which then opens up the shelter beds or the tiny shelter village units to people who are on the streets of Port Alberni with no homes,” she said.

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Hartman says there were 180 homeless people counted in Port Alberni last year, a 10% increase from the 163 counted in 2023, and there is already 200 people registered for supportive housing here.

On Monday, City Council approved the construction of a 6-storey, 55-unit supportive housing facility in the Uptown area, despite opposition from area residents and businesses.